Jenny James | Early Career Outreach Committee Chair
Making decisions about career moves can be daunting. Considering whether to make the shift from an assistant or deputy manager role to the manager position is particularly intimidating. Even before assessing whether your skillset coincides with a hiring community’s needs, you will need to consider whether taking a manager position is in your desired career path and if it’s the right time to pursue the position.
If you are thinking about making the shift to a manager role, you should begin preparing to compete well for the top job. That could include identifying specific new skills to develop to distinguish yourself from other candidates. It also means building confidence and taking risks. Pentwater Village Manager Rachel Witherspoon shared wise advice about this process: “You’re never going to think you’re ready to take a manager position … do it anyway.”
Thankfully, Rachel and other MME members have faced this key decision point and have advice and encouragement to share. Mark your calendars for the May 30 Early Career Outreach Committee luncheon session to hear from members who are considering the change, members who have made the change, and members who have made different career changes. Watch your email for details, registration information, and the speaker list. You can attend virtually or in person at the MML Office in Lansing.
Jenny James
Chair, Early Career Outreach Committee
Deputy County Administrator, Kent County
Jenny’s local government career spans 30 years with Montgomery County, Maryland, City of Rockville, Maryland, and Kent County, Michigan. Her roles in those organizations include legislative analyst, assistant city manager, deputy city manager, and deputy county administrator. In her current role, Jenny supports Kent County’s health and human services departments. She served as a regional vice president on the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Executive Board, chair of the ICMA Board’s Committee on Professional Conduct, and in leadership roles with the Metropolitan Association of Local Government Assistants. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in public management from the University of Maryland at College Park. Jenny is pleased to engage and support newer members of the profession through the Early Career Outreach Committee and appreciates the focus that MME places on recruiting the next generation of local government leaders.